UFC Live: Joseph Benavidez Vs. Eddie Wineland

Joseph Benavidez enters to “Stranglehold” by Ted Nugent, which is fitting because he owns six submissions by choke.

Josh Rosenthal will referee this bantamweight contest.

Round 1: Intensity by both fighters right from the start. Benavidez connects with a leg kick. Wineland catches another kick by Benavidez and looks to unload his right. Combo by Wineland connects. Benavidez continues to try to work the kicks while Wineland just looks ready to fire away. Some swelling forming under the eye of Benavidez, while Wineland has cut on his forehead. No solid punches connected, just short, quick jabs. Benavidez hits a combo that rocks Wineland a little and follows with more kicks. Blood leaking from the nose of Wineland’s, causing him trouble breathing. Looks to be a broken nose, as he keeps touching it. Right-hand by Benavidez connects, and Wineland misses with a combo of uppercuts. Kick checked by Wineland. Blood covering the mouth of Wineland completely, as Wineland misses with wild punches.

FightLine.com scores the round 10-9 for Benavidez

Round 2: Wineland connects with an uppercut, as Benavidez fires back with a leg kick. Welt forming on the leg of Benavidez. Front-leg kick by Benavidez and another kick connects. Benavidez acted like he got poked but the ref doesn’t step in, saying it was a punch and Wineland is in control. The punch clearly landed directly on the eye of Benavidez. Wineland avoiding giving Benavidez the opening for a takedown, missing wildly with an uppercut. Benavidez shoots in for a single-leg, but Wineland fights it off. Takedown attempt by Benavidez misses and the two clinch. Knees by Benavidez, and Wineland lands on top of Benavidez. Both get to their feet and square off. Benavidez misses with a combo and follows with a single-leg takedown that puts Wineland on his back. Wineland fights off quickly.

FightLight.com scores the round 10-9 for Wineland

Round 3: Wineland’s corner tells him to push the pace as heads towards the center of the cage. Wineland hits with a hook as Benavidez goes down. Looked like a combo of the punch and a slip caused Benavidez to hit the mat for a short time. Benavidez nails a big punch, sending Wineland all the way across the cage to the fence and follows with a flying knee that just misses. Wineland recovers and squares off. Right-hand by Wineland connects, as Benavidez hits a kick. Back-and-forth opening two minutes of action. Wineland connects with a counter to the kick. Benavidez fakes a takedown and Wineland sprawls. Kick by Benavidez just misses, as does a strong left jab. Head kick avoided by Wineland. Right counter lands directly on Benavidez by Wineland. Benavidez shoots and tries to work the takedown, as Wineland goes for a choke. Both sprawl out of it and prepare to throw. Right misses by Wineland, as does leg kick by Benavidez. Crowd gets into it with under 20 seconds to go, but neither fighter lands much of anything.

FightLine.com scores the round 10-9 for Benavidez

Replays showed Wineland poked Benavidez before landing a right in the second round.